High-tech plastic from Bayer for ultramobile notebooks and stylish televisions:

Strong, lightweight and trendy

Polycarbonate in many devices at the IFA international trade show

more imagesdownloadUltramobile notebooks can become significantly slimmer and shed even more weight thanks to a new plastic material from Bayer

Leverkusen, September 5, 2014 – As people become ever more mobile and communicative, they are usually accompanied by an electronic companion wherever they go. Such as ultramobile notebooks – especially small, lightweight and stylish computers with a long battery life. They are much thinner and weigh much less than traditional laptops and are among the highlights of the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), the international trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances held in Berlin. But that's not all. Made with a new plastic material from Bayer, the notebooks can become significantly slimmer and shed even more weight. Bayer materials that can be molded in any desired shape are also turning the latest generation of televisions into elegant works of art.

Ultramobile notebook housings made of reinforced polycarbonate can be up to 45 per cent thinner. Electronic devices that employ this innovative high-performance plastic can also weigh up to 100 grams less. The material is additionally available in a wide range of colors. And because polycarbonate can be molded in any shape, computer housings can be manufactured in highly sophisticated designs.

Sophisticated designs, high level of safety

Innovative surface textures also become possible, and soft-touch coatings give the electronic devices a satiny-soft feel. The Bayer plastic is also particularly robust and increases safety above all due to its high flame retardance, which makes it especially appropriate for notebooks and other electronic entertainment devices. An attractive feature for manufacturers is that the use of reinforced polycarbonate saves them precious time. A complete housing can be manufactured in less than a minute.

Polycarbonate, which was invented by Bayer more than 60 years ago and has been continuously developed ever since, can also be used in many more applications than just electronic devices. It also makes watching television at home a more pleasant experience. Many of the components in the latest televisions are made of polycarbonate. For example, polycarbonate is used in the diffuser plates that distribute the LED light over the entire monitor to produce a high-quality image.

TV bezels, cover panels and stands are also made of polycarbonate and polycarbonate-based plastic mixtures. The most recent designs include televisions with ultra-thin screens and an elegantly curved, transparent base. This base houses important components and functions as a docking station from which the monitor can be detached. The TV sets are available in high-gloss in many different colors.

About Bayer MaterialScience:With 2013 sales of EUR 11.2 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2013, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,300 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

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Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.